Premium Pond Houses, Saguna Baug

The architectural layout includes a gently elevated plinth that transitions into a deck overlooking the water. The buildings are composed of a composite RCC frame with load-bearing walls supporting a dual-layered roof system, an inner brick shallow dome combined with an outer sloping Mangalore-tile roof. This combination enhances insulation and reduces the cooled interior volume, lowering energy requirements. For the interior spaces, the design team includes integrated beds and seating elements, arranged to orient views toward the pond. Cantilevered blocks with a blue IPS (Indian Patent Stone) finish contribute to the exterior profile while providing indoor vantage points toward the landscape and water. The spatial configuration aims to maintain continuity between natural and built environments.

Design maintains continuity between nature and built forms

The Pond Houses at Saguna Baug, India, are a series of cottages, positioned at the boundary between land and water. Designed as part of a larger 50-acre agro-tourism development in Neral, Maharashtra, the project integrates architectural form with the surrounding man-made pond ecosystem. Constructed using 9-inch-thick Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB) made from on-site excavated earth, the structures emphasize material efficiency and passive thermal regulation. Raised platforms reduce ground impact and allow for minimal disruption to the pond environment.